Leverage operated screwdriver

ABSTRACT

A screwdriver implement, the tool including a straight shank, one end of the shank being flattened to be receivable within a screwdriver slot the other end of the shank having a handle secured thereto, and sidewardly pivotable lever for leverage purpose being movable between a position parallel to the shank and a position at right angle thereto, wherein the handle is rotatable on the shank when the lever is at right angles to the shank.

nited States Patent [15] 3,656,523

McGee [451 Apr. 18, 1972 54] LEVERAGE OPERATED 1,411,242 3/ 1922 Faust ..'..l45/6l L ux SCREWDRIVER 1,530,905 3/1925 Nance ..l45/61 1. 2,778,396 1/1957 Swain ..l45/6l L X [72] inventor: Andrew T. McGee, 222 Beach 138th Street, Belle Harbor, l 1694 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz [22] Filed: July 14, 1970 4 Assistant Examiner-Michael Koczo, Jr.

[21] Appl. No.: 54,704 [57.] ABSTRACT A screwdriver implement, the tool including a straight shank, 52 one end of the shank being flattened to be receivable within a [51] screwdriver slot the other end of the shank having a handle [58] secured thereto, and sidewardly pivotable lever for leverage purpose being movable between a position parallel to the l 56] References Cited shank and a position at right angle thereto, wherein the handle is rotatable on the shank when the lever is at right angles to the UNITED STATES PATENTS shank- 719,440 2/1906 Davis...-. .Q ..l45/61 L UX 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LEVERAGE OPERATED SCREWDRIVER This invention related generally to screwdrivers.

It is generally well known that often a person employing a conventional screwdriver is unable to apply sufficient force so to effect rotation of the implement so to break loose screws that are rusted in place or wherein a screw cannot be driven fully into a work. This situation is of course objectional and in want of improvement.

Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved screwdriver having self contained means whereby increased rotational leverage may be obtained while applying a relatively small force by a person to the tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved screwdriver incorporating a sidewardly pivotable lever.

Yet another object is to provide an improved screwdriver wherein the pivotable lever in a retracted non-use position fits into the confines of -a conventional screwdriver shape, so that the tool may be used in an ordinary conventional manner.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved screwdriver wherein the tool may be used with the sidewardly extending lever in very close areas where only very small movement thereof is possible.

Another object is to screwdriver an improved screwdriver which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of the invention shown with the lever in retracted position.

F lg. 2 is a side view thereof with lever partly pivoted sidewardly.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view showing a modified construction for use of the lever in close quarters.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents an improved screwdriver according to the present invention wherein there is a straight shank 1 1 having a flat anvil 12 at one end thereof so to be receivable within a conventional screwdriver slot. The opposite end of the shank is secured in a first handle member 13 of a handle assembly members together in axial alignment with each other. A

groove 28 along a cylindrical side of the first handle member and is secured by a screw 15 fitted with washers l6 and 17.

The portion 18 of the shank fitted within the handle 13 is round while the protruding portion 19 of the shank is cross sectional square. Portion l8 abutts shoulder 13'. A lever assembly 20, pivotable between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is mounted upon the foregoing structure, the assembly 20 including a collar 21 with square central opening 22 receiving the shank portion 19 therethrough and along which the collar is slidable. A groove 23 on a cylindrical side of the collar receives one end of the lever bar 24 and secured pivotally free on a transverse pin 25 secured in the collar. The other end of the bar is secured in a second handle member 26 comprising the other component of the handle assembly 14. A spring loaded detent 27 is employed to normally hold the handle 13 receives the bar 24 flush therein as shown in FIG. 3 so that when the screwdriver is used in ordinary manner without the lever, the lever assembly is flush within the structure and does not interfere.

In operative use, when the lever is pivoted sidewardly for increased leverage purpose, the collar is slidable along the shank so that it may be along any desired part thereof, for best effort, or so to clear obstructions alongside and permit turn the lever.

In FIG. 5, a modified leverage screwdriver 29 is generally the identical as above described, but wherein the square shank 30 includes a short length 31 thereof which is round in cross section, and which can be used for receiving the collar 32 pivotally free thereof. This will allow the device to use in very close quarters and where in the lever needs to be disengaged durin a part of its rotational sweep so to clear obstructions.

It s ould be noted that the handle 13 is rotatable about shank 18 when the lever 24 is in its lateral position, whereby rapid rotation of the shank is easily effected while the operator holds the handle stationary.

While various changes may be made in detail construction, it is to be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A screw driver adapted for the application of increased driving leverage comprising an elongated shank having an upper cylinderical portion and a lower portion of polygonal cross section terminating in flat anvil head for reception in a screw head slot, in combination with a handle assembly mounted axially about the cylindrical portion for rotating said shank, said assembly comprising a first section rotatably mounted on said upper portion of said shank including means for adjustably securing said first section to said shank to transmit axial pressure from the handle to the shank and to vary the amount of relative rotation between the shank and said first section, further including a lever means mounted slidably on the said lower portion of the shank to transmit rotational torque to said shank, said lever means having a hinge at its lower end and an auxiliary handle at its upper end whereby the lever means is movable from a closed position recessed in said first section with said auxiliary handle in abutment and axial alignment with said first section, to a second position extending at right angles to said shank.

2. A screw driver as in claim l wherein said lever means includes a collar having a polygonal bore fitting the polygonal portion of the shank, said first section having a longitudinal groove in its periphery to receive fully therein said lever means when in the closed position, said first section having a transverse upper surface with a recess therein for enclosing the first said means, said auxiliary handle having a lower surface with a transverse area adopted to abut said transverse upper surface of said first section and a curved surface for clearing the first section when the auxiliary handle is moved to the closed position. 

1. A screw driver adapted for the application of increased driving leverage comprising an elongated shank having an upper cylinderical portion and a lower portion of polygonal cross section terminating in flat anvil head for reception in a screw head slot, in combination with a handle assembly mounted axially about the cylindrical portion for rotating said shank, said assembly comprising a first section rotatably mounted on said upper portion of said shank including means for adjustably securing said first section to said shank to transmit axial pressure from the handle to the shank and to vary the amount of relative rotation between the shank and said first section, further including a lever means mounted slidably on the said lower portion of the shank to transmit rotational torque to said shank, said lever means having a hinge at its lower end and an auxiliary handle at its upper end whereby the lever means is movable from a closed position recessed in said first section with said auxiliary handle in abutment and axial alignment with said first section, to a second position extending at right angles to said shank.
 2. A screw driver as in claim 1 wherein said lever means includes a collar having a polygonal bore fitting the polygonal portion of the shank, said first section having a longitudinal groove in its periphery to receive fully therein said lever means when in the closed position, said first section having a transverse upper surface with a recess therein for enclosing the first said means, said auxiliary handle having a lower surface with a transverse area adopted to abut said transverse upper surface of said first section and a curved surface for clearing the first section when the auxiliary handle is moved to the closed position. 